Pants hanger



Oct. 28, 1952 M. E. LEONARD 2,615,604

PANTS HANGER Filed May 19, 1949 Inventor Mayo E. Leonard Oct. 28, 1952 M. E. LEONARD 2,615,604

PANTS HANGER Filed May 19, 1949 2 sm'rs-sm'r '2' I a writer Mayo 5. Leonard arm flaw EM Patented Oct. 28, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE NT ER :f

Mayo E. Leonaidflloledo Ohio' v Application May 19,1949, SerialNo, I

My invention relates to pants hangers of the October 15, 1935, over which this'invention is de-,

signed as an improvement.

The primary object of this invention is to simplify the construction of such hangers, and pro- 2 Claims. (01.223595) 7 vide for easier and quicker assembly of parts, to

gether with greater gripping action, all to the end of reducing the cost of manufacture and attaining greater efficiency in operation.

Another object is to provide for retaining the assembled parts of such hangers in proper relation by improved means obviating special screw studs, rivets, and the like, which increase the cost of manufacture of said hangers. I I M Still another object is to provide in such hangers for rotating the hanger bar on the suspension hook into different positions in which the bar is yieldingly locked, whereby to facilitate hanging pants in closets, or on display, in different positions as may be found desirable.

Other and subordinate objects within the pur-' view of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved pants hanger in a preferred embodiment thereof with a pair of pants, shown fragmentarily, suspended therefrom;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 1 and drawn to a still larger scale;

Figure 7 is a view in transverse section illustrating the hanger bar rotated into a position at a right angle to the plane of the suspension hook;

Figure 8 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and drawn to a larger scale;

plastic if'desire d.

V Figure' ll isa 'view in perspective of one ofthe guidepins I, 1

,Referrin'g'to the drawings by numerals, my improved pants hanger comprises as its basic parts a tubular hanger bar .I a central suspension hook 2 for said bar, and a pair of grips3 for insertion in the legs of, pants designated 4.

The hanger bar Imay be of any suitable diameter and length rendering the same suitable for ,use in the mannerpresentlyseen, and is preferably formed of light strong metal, such as stainles'sfsteel, or aluminum, but, may be formed of 'f The suspension hook 2 is formed of a suitable gauge rod material, preferably metal, with a shank 5" on which the hanger bar I is secured at its transverse center by rotatably inserting said shank 5 through ,said bar I, and upsetting the terminal end of the shank}, as atfi. Inside the hanger bar I, the shank 5 is square, in crosssection, to provide a pair of opposite'flat sides Figure 9 is an exploded View in perspective of parts of the pants hanger;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the stem of the hanger hook; and

1 parallel to the plane ofrthe hanger hook 2, and another pair of opposite flat sides 8 at right an.- gles to the plane of said hook, all'for. a purpose presently explained. I

, C The grips'3,'which may-be formed of any suit able light strongmetal,.or plastic, comprise a pair of longitudinally split cylindrical sleeves 9 fitting around said bar I on opposite sides of'the hanger hook 2 for sliding along said bar and having formed integrally therewith outer end extensions ID of bifurcated form in cross section straddling said barl and each including a pair of laterally spaced gripping plates I I with notched outer side edges I2. 'The sleeves 9 are formed at the inner ends thereof with a pair of upstanding manipulative horns I3 curving toward the outer ends of said grips 3 and for grasping between the thumb and finger of one hand and pressing toward each other to slide said grips 3 toward each other along the hanger bar I, as will be understood. The pairs of gripping plates II are designed to be inserted in the legs I4 of the pants 4, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, in the creases of the pants, and the grips 3 to be forced outwardly and guided along the hanger bar I to cause the notched edges I2 of said plates II to grip said legs I4 and thereby suspend the pants with the bottom of the legs I4 stretched, all by means now to be described.

A pair of flat guide pins I5 of substantially the same length as the outside diameter of the sleeves 9 are slidably inserted through side slots IS in the sleeves 9 and through pairs of diametrically opposite, longitudinal guide slots I! in the sides of the hanger bar I to prevent said grips 3 from.

turning around said bar I. The pins I are provided with notched inner edges, as at I8. A pair of expanding coil springs I9 are interposed in the hanger bar I between the pins I5 and the shank 5 of the suspension hook 2. The coil springs I9 at the outer ends thereof fit in the notches I8 of the guide pins I5, and are thereby recessed into said pins, for a particular purpose presently explained.

As will be apparent, the notched guide pins I5 and the shank 5 of the suspension hook 2 retain the coil springs IS in place in the hanger bar I while the guide pins I5 are retained in place by the ends of the coil springs I9 fitting in the notches I8 of said pins. The inner ends of the coil springs I9 seat flat against the pair of flat sides 1 of the shank 2 when the hanger bar I is rotated on said shank into a common plane with the hanger hook '2, and said inner ends of the coil springs I9 similarly seat against the pair of flat sides 8 of the shank 5 when said bar is rotated into a position at a right angle to the plane of the suspension hook 2, whereby said bar I is yieldingly locked in either position described relative to said suspension hook.

In using and operating the improved pants hanger, the horns I3 may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger of one hand and pressed together to slide the grips 3 toward each other along the hanger bar I, in opposition to the coil springs I9, to position said grips for insertion in the legs IA of the pants 4 held in the other hand. Then, upon relieving pressure on said horns I3, the grips 3 will be forced by the coil springs I9 outwardly along the hanger bar I to force the gripping plates II into ripping position in the legs I4, in the manner already described. The hanger may be suspended by the suspension hook 2 from the usual horizontal pole, shown in dotted lines at 20, or any other fixed support, with the hanger bar I rotated on the shank 5 and yieldingly locked in rotated position to arrange the pants 4 in either of two relatively right angled positions, the advantage of which will be manifest.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Mahifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein resserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a pants hanger, a tubular hanger bar provided adjacent each end with a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extending slots therein, a hanger hook having a shank extending centrally through said bar and about which said bar is rotatable into different positions, a pair of pants grips carried by said bar upon opposite sides of said shank and includin a pair of sleeves slidable outwardly along said bar to correspondingly slide said grips into pants gripping position, said sleeves having diametrically opposite slots therein, a pair of pins extending diametrically through said bar with ends slidable in the pairs of slots in the bar and fitting in the pairs of slots in the sleeves to guide said sleeves during sliding thereof and correspondingly guide said grips, a pair of coil springs in said bar having inner ends bearing against opposite sides of said shank and outer ends bearing against said pins to slide the pins in the 7 slots in the bar and thereby slide said sleeves,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,423,961 Buxton July 15, 1947 2,429,712 Fetter Oct. 28, 1947 

